The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-15

"ther eyes abe 1t then" cannot have
failed TO SEQ that To keep saloon Is
not 4 personal right, bat Q privilege
e be obtained by getting license
for that purpose. subject TO such re-
strictions and conditions as the law
has imposed. To you it would be
needless 10 say that under our policy
Of LEGAL option il may not be possible
everywhere TO obtain that license
upon any terms whatever.
After more diligent search Of my
letter than you have seemed to have
given before attacking il in your
public address, you have found the
hypothetical reference 10 the
wooden horse" and that is all OF
mine TO which you have referred.
To that j reply, If confined to narrow
limits and with q sufficient majority
to assure that the measure rests on
the consent Of the governed. | am in
favor Of local option" but il in
sidieusly employed to gain vantage
ground for wider operations, then 1t
should be warning against lurking
evil. My remarks had emily that ex-
teat.
According TO the reported pro-
oecdings Of the Prohibition Conven-
tisn oil our State, you were Of the
minority who opposed making it Q
State question, and so far we would
appear 10 agree.
Though the constitutional amend
ment pending in Texas was the sub
jet on which my opinion was asked
and eivcp. you have spoken only Of
whisky traffic" and saloons" TO-
gether with the incidents and acci-
dents Of the canvass in Texas. OF
the last il may be said, when you
have more experience in such mat
ters ysu will probably realize that
tho defeated party in an election is
generally dissatisfied with the result
and promo to complain Of the man
ner in which II was effected.
As necessary to full understand
ing OF the matters in issue. will
| qustc the terms Of the amendment
referred 70 az follows:
The manufacture, sale and ex-
| change Of Intoxicating liquor, ex-
Dept "for medical, mechanical, sacra-
mental aud scientific purposes. Is
hereby. prohibited in the State Of
Texas"
Tho Legislature was to enact
necessary laws at its first session
ailer the adoption OF the amend
meut. If IL had been adopted, a
farmer who had . vineyard was not
10 be permitted 10 mako wine Of
his grapes; or IL no had an orchard
he was not 70 DO allowed 10 manu-
facture cider Of his apples, or brandy
Of his peaches, or whisky OF his
grain. or beer Of his barley or hops.
lie could not exchange such articles.
though the product oil his farm, for
comforts grown in . different lati-
tude and 70 be produced at his homo.
Fanatioism looks through q re-
versed telescope. minimizins every
thing save its special object. What
Though ono should point . prohibi.
zionist 10 the oivilisins. harmonir.
ing. peaoe-scouring, comfort giving
effects OF commerce upon the ma
tioas, II no thought Il intcrfered
with his particular I" sm." would he
not probably answer by irrelevant
ostchwordsf The time was when
sumptuary laws embraced what
should be worn and eaten. If we
begin the march Of retrogressiou,
where will IL stopi II. as already
proposed, there should be federal
laws 10 enforce the prohibition pol
10y, your recollection Of war and re-
construction days should enable you
70 anticipate The doings Of an army
Of spies, iniormers and deputy mar
shals making doniciliary visits TO in
sure the observance Of the law. The
moral decay which would inevitably
result from such condition
needs no portrayal. To me |, seems
the plain duty OF every citizen who
loves the liberty our sires bequeathed
10 US 20 check this scheme before Il
acquires dangerous proportions. |
held IL 10 DO one OF the national
rights Of man 20 do as he pleases
with his own, provided he inaicts no
Injury on another. To protect the
use aud prevent the abuse OF that
right, government Is the necessity Of
social existence; 10 give adequate
power and yet efficiently 20 guard
against the pcrversiou OF the grant
Is the problem which the wisdom oil
ages has but partially solved; hence
the maxim, "kternal vigilance ID
tho price OF liberty"
There are surely better remedies
for offences against the peace an,
good order Of society than such dc
parturc from our principles OF con
stitutional government and commu
nifty independence a. would be fedora
legislation 10 enforce sumptuar
tolioy. Father Matthew found rea
son aud moral sussion such poten
factors that his good work ives not o
q day, but lives after him. in som
who took The pledge aud others VII
have joined the temperance sooietio,
Those aud other causes have 20 scte,
upon public opinion asd social hab
its a. 20 give 70 the prohibition move
meut the possibilities Il now has an
could not have enjoyed 10 the no
remote past. Why not trust TO roli
, gion and education, TO retirement an
4 science, aided by the laws whic
4 havs the sanction OF experience,
: prevent the formation OF habits {
. intenpcranee. rather than at III
!. saorifcc o. personal liberty aud morI
4 responsibility 10 undertake, by ooei
4 sive means, the reformation Of III
; | drupkAdsf The former may
practicable; the latter, by such meth
q DDS, " hopeless.
y 10 tho letter 10 Gov. Lubbock
O admitted incompetence 20 be q grcI
a evil. but Is IL the only one whis
n sfiliots society aud calls for moi
N active remcdicsf The opium hab
a IL reported by statistics 20 be increa
II ing, aud, sad TO rotate, that is grca
"a est ravAges are among the gentle
"a aud purcr sex. Laws exist, but Ia
| A.. .,ravanl fha .husa In thta M,